Lisa Sandberg: I’m not with ya on that

Some of Tom Craddick’s top lieutenants may be pushing the idea of a roll call in the election of the next speaker, but the idea has some members chafed. Rep. Joe Straus tonight sent out a press release blasting the idea. “I believe we must protect the institutions of good government against even the apperance of coersion. We must ensure that no single member stands in a hotter spotlight than any other when he or she casts a vote on Tuesday.”

Straus goes on to say that he’s still pledged to Craddick BUT, “My support for any candidate for speaker,” Straus writes in his release, “is predicated on his or her support of a fair process. I believe this outweighs any member’s personal ambitions.”

Ouch. If House members do adopt a roll-call vote, and the vote for speaker is close, it stands to reason that the last members would stand “in a hotter spotlight than any other.”